This page features some of my own tips for writing well. Everyone has his/her own writing process, but that doesn't mean that no one should ever give or take advice about writing. These tips work for me, and I think it's worth giving them a try to see if they'll work for you.
Getting Started: For me, getting started is the hardest part of writing. Here are the techniques I use when I just can't get my ideas down on paper.
1. If you're sitting at your computer and can't think of anything, try getting up and doing something else. Do whatever you want - take a walk, take a shower, lay down on your bed, listen to music, play a video game - but keep thinking about your project. If you let your thoughts stew for a while, something will come to you.
2. If technique 1 doesn't work, try free-writing. Just keep your fingers moving on the keyboard or your pen moving on the paper. You may write a paragraph or two that you'll have to throw away, but you'll soon build up enough momentum to get you writing about the prompt.
3. Talk to someone about your ideas for the piece and ask them to record what you say or take notes. Often you have all the pieces to the puzzle in your head, and the trouble is just getting them out in a way that makes sense. The person you're talking to will help you - without even knowing it - by asking you questions and responding to what you say. When you're done, use the tape or the notes to start writing a first draft.
Pre-Writing: Writing is all about preparation. Things go much more smoothly if you sit down and pre-write. You may think it will take you extra time, but it's really a great time-saver.
1. Outline: Nothing helps me organize a paper more than outlining before I start. Whether I'm writing fiction or non-fiction, knowing where I'm going to start, where I'm going to finish, and what I have to do in the middle before I start writing is an important step. It helps me focus so that I do not waste my time on tangents, and it ensures that my work is organized and easy for my readers to follow.
2. Write More than You Need: My first drafts are always longer than my later drafts, and I never stop writing my first draft just because I've reached the page limit. Having extra relevant material (material that fits with my outline) gives me the freedom to include only the best bits and get rid of the sub-par material without worrying about having the minimum number of pages.
Writing: These are general tips meant to help your writing shine.
1. Use vivid language. "To be" verbs and the passive voice make your writing sound bland and bore your readers. Having your character sit in a chair doesn't tell your reader a lot about him. If he "slumps," the reader knows he is tired. If he "sinks," the reader might think he's disappointed or sad. When you write "John was hit in the face with the bat," your readers know generally what happened, but if you tell them "The bat bashed John in the face," it gives them a much clearer picture of how hard John was hit.
2. Don't overuse modifiers. Adverbs can help you create very specific images for the reader, but they can also be annoying when used in excess. A good action verb, one that accurately describes the action, won't often need a modifier because it provides all the details itself.
3. Remember that readers are like dogs. When they go for a walk, dogs need to be led from point A to point B. You have to keep them on a leash so they don't get distracted by squirrels or passing cars or stop too long at a fire hydrant. Likewise, a good writer will make sure that his/her text guides readers from the beginning to the end smoothly. S/he will keep sentences short, include only relevant details, make sure paragraphs are arranged in a logical order with smooth transitions between them, and generally do everything in his/her power to make sure that the reader won't get lost or confused.
Proofreading: Proofreading is very important, but it can be difficult to do if you don't have a peer reader. Here are my recommendations for when you have to proofread your own writing.
1. Read it out loud. Your ears are often much better at grammar than your eyes are, so you'll hear mistakes you might not have seen. Reading aloud also helps you make sure the piece flows well.
2. Proofread a little at a time. Read one one page at a time and really focus on it. Then take a break. Come back after five minutes and do the next one. That way, you're always looking at the paper with "fresh eyes," and it won't become a blur.
3. Proofread more than once: You'll never, ever catch every awkward phrase, every misused/misspelled word, and every grammatical error in one read-through. I always proofread once before bed (or before dinner or before school) and once after. That way I can approach the paper with fresh eyes and catch what I missed.
Getting Started: For me, getting started is the hardest part of writing. Here are the techniques I use when I just can't get my ideas down on paper.
1. If you're sitting at your computer and can't think of anything, try getting up and doing something else. Do whatever you want - take a walk, take a shower, lay down on your bed, listen to music, play a video game - but keep thinking about your project. If you let your thoughts stew for a while, something will come to you.
2. If technique 1 doesn't work, try free-writing. Just keep your fingers moving on the keyboard or your pen moving on the paper. You may write a paragraph or two that you'll have to throw away, but you'll soon build up enough momentum to get you writing about the prompt.
3. Talk to someone about your ideas for the piece and ask them to record what you say or take notes. Often you have all the pieces to the puzzle in your head, and the trouble is just getting them out in a way that makes sense. The person you're talking to will help you - without even knowing it - by asking you questions and responding to what you say. When you're done, use the tape or the notes to start writing a first draft.
Pre-Writing: Writing is all about preparation. Things go much more smoothly if you sit down and pre-write. You may think it will take you extra time, but it's really a great time-saver.
1. Outline: Nothing helps me organize a paper more than outlining before I start. Whether I'm writing fiction or non-fiction, knowing where I'm going to start, where I'm going to finish, and what I have to do in the middle before I start writing is an important step. It helps me focus so that I do not waste my time on tangents, and it ensures that my work is organized and easy for my readers to follow.
2. Write More than You Need: My first drafts are always longer than my later drafts, and I never stop writing my first draft just because I've reached the page limit. Having extra relevant material (material that fits with my outline) gives me the freedom to include only the best bits and get rid of the sub-par material without worrying about having the minimum number of pages.
Writing: These are general tips meant to help your writing shine.
1. Use vivid language. "To be" verbs and the passive voice make your writing sound bland and bore your readers. Having your character sit in a chair doesn't tell your reader a lot about him. If he "slumps," the reader knows he is tired. If he "sinks," the reader might think he's disappointed or sad. When you write "John was hit in the face with the bat," your readers know generally what happened, but if you tell them "The bat bashed John in the face," it gives them a much clearer picture of how hard John was hit.
2. Don't overuse modifiers. Adverbs can help you create very specific images for the reader, but they can also be annoying when used in excess. A good action verb, one that accurately describes the action, won't often need a modifier because it provides all the details itself.
3. Remember that readers are like dogs. When they go for a walk, dogs need to be led from point A to point B. You have to keep them on a leash so they don't get distracted by squirrels or passing cars or stop too long at a fire hydrant. Likewise, a good writer will make sure that his/her text guides readers from the beginning to the end smoothly. S/he will keep sentences short, include only relevant details, make sure paragraphs are arranged in a logical order with smooth transitions between them, and generally do everything in his/her power to make sure that the reader won't get lost or confused.
Proofreading: Proofreading is very important, but it can be difficult to do if you don't have a peer reader. Here are my recommendations for when you have to proofread your own writing.
1. Read it out loud. Your ears are often much better at grammar than your eyes are, so you'll hear mistakes you might not have seen. Reading aloud also helps you make sure the piece flows well.
2. Proofread a little at a time. Read one one page at a time and really focus on it. Then take a break. Come back after five minutes and do the next one. That way, you're always looking at the paper with "fresh eyes," and it won't become a blur.
3. Proofread more than once: You'll never, ever catch every awkward phrase, every misused/misspelled word, and every grammatical error in one read-through. I always proofread once before bed (or before dinner or before school) and once after. That way I can approach the paper with fresh eyes and catch what I missed.